Collapsible cardboard display device



Nov. 2l, 1950 L. EBERT ETAL coLLAPsIBLE cARDBoARD DISPLAY DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1948 laan/16 Nov. 2l, 1950 L. EBERT ETAL2,530,950

coLLAPsIBLE cARDoARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 17, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented Nov. 21, 1950 coLnArsinpn oARDBoARD DISPLAY DEVICE LudwigEbert, New York, N. Y., and Robert Benchley, Jr., New Canaan, Conn.,assignors to Ellison-Freeman Co., Inc., Long Island City, N9 Y.. acorporation 0f Delaware Application November 17, 1.948, Serial No.60,514

2 Claims. (Cl. l0-4244) Our present invention relates generally todisplay devices and has particular reference to a collapsible cardboarddisplay device intended primarily for use in store windows, on countersand the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide certain improvementsin the type of device in which an upright poster or its equivalent issupported at its lower end by a collapsible base structure ofsubstantially triangular cross-sectional shape. More particularly, thestructure to which outl present invention relates is of the kind inwhich a pair of supporting panels are hinged to the poster and divergedownwards, and a pair of nether bracing panels are hinged respectivelyto said supporting panels and converge upwards. The supporting panelsare adapted toY swing atwise into superposed lrelation when the deviceis to be collapsed. They assume downwardly divergent supportingpositions when the device is set up, and it is a feature of ourinvention to provide a means for limiting the extent of divergence, thusassuring a proper relationship of the parts when the` device is used.

The nether bracing panels have upper edges which are joined togetheralong a hinge line, In accordance with our invention, a cut-out isprovided which extends along part of this hinge line, and the poster isprovided with an extension which projects downwardly through thecut-out. The poster extension is formed with an upwardlyfacing abutmentwhich underlies the joined bracing panel edges. Preferably, the cut-outis medially arranged with respect to the hinge `line with which it isaligned, and the poster extension has a T-shaped part which extendsthrough the cut-out. This interlocked relationship of parts wouldordinarily make it imperative that the device be composed of at leasttwo elements. However, a particular feature of our present inventionlies in the design and arrangement of the parts in such a way that theentire structure may be formed, if desired, of a single blank ofcardboard. This serves not only to simplify the manufacture, but also toobviate problems of alignment which have always heretofore arisen when astructure of this general character has been composed of two or moreelements. i

Other features and objectives of the invention reside in the provisionof a construction which is not only simple and inexpensive from amanufacturing standpoint, but which may be expeditiously adjustedbetween its collapsed and set-up conditions without requiring anyspecial skill on the part of `the user.

We achieve the foregoing objects and advane tages, and such otherobjects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, themanner illustratively exemplified in the ELCQQm' panying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance withthe present invention, shown in set-uc condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the single blank 0f cardboard ef which thedevice, of Fie 1 may be formed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sec.- tional view takensubstantially along the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in their collapsedrelationship;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a part of the basestructure .of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a inodication;

Fig. '7 is a view similar` to Figs. 5 and f5, illustratillg anothermodiation; and

Fie.' 8 ,is a fragmentary plan, View of the blank of cardboard of whichthe device of Fie- '1 may be formed.

Referring first to Figs. 1-5. We have dieser to show an upright posterI0 which is substantially rectangular in shape. 'It is supported upon acollapsible base structure which consists of the downwardly divergentsupporting panels I I and I2., and the upwardly convergent netherbracing panels I3 and I4. The supporting panels II and I 2 are hinged tothe poster I 0 along the lines l5 and I6 respectively. The bracing panelI3 is hinged to the panel l I along the line l l, and the bracing`panell is similarly hinged to the panel I2 along the line I8. The panelsI3 and I4 have upper edges which are hinged together along the hingeline I9. As a result of these hinged connections, the base structure canbe adjusted from the set-up condition shown most clearly in Figs, l, 2and 5 to the collapsed condition showinI in Fig. 4.

In accordance with our invention, the bracing panels I3 and I 4 areprovided with a cut-out in alignment with the hinge line I 9. Preferablythis cut-out is medially arranged. It is designated in the presentdrawings by the reference numeral 20. Extending downwardly through hitis a T- shaped par-t of a poster extension 2l. The stem of `the T liesbetween the parallel edges 22 which are spaced apart by a distancesubstantially equal to the length of the cut-out 20. The crossbar of the-T defines upwardly facingshoulders or aloutments `23 which underlie thehinge line I9.

The upper marginal part of the poster extension 2| overlaps the lowermargin of the poster I0. These overlapping layers are rigidly securedtogether during the initial manufacture of the device. We haveillustratively shown staples 24 for accomplishing this purpose, butadhesive or other securing means may be employed if desired. It is to benoted that the securement is above the level of the hinge lines I5 andI6. Thus, the poster I and the poster extension 2I are rigidlyinterconnected at all times.

Extending between the upper edge 25 of the poster extension 2| and theupper edge I6 of the adjacent supporting panel I2 is a connecting panel26. This panel is doubled upon the poster extension 2 I, and the staples24 extend through it. The panel 2B is provided to facilitate theconstruction of the device from a single blank of cardboard. This blankis shown most clearly in Fig. 2 in which the parts hereinbeforedescribed, and the hinge lines which separate them, are designated bycorresponding reference numerals. It will be understood that the hingelines may be formed in any suitable or appropriate manner, either bycut-scoring the cardboard blank, or by crease-scoring it. It will benoted that the panels II, I3, I4, I2 and 26, as well as the poster I8itself and the poster extension 2 I, are successively adjacent parts ofthe single initial blank.

In manufacture, the blank shown in Fig. 2 is rst cut, shaped, andscored, and after the parts have been brought into their properrelationship, the staples 24 are applied to hold the structure in itsassembled condition. In order to permit the cross-bar of the T (of theposter extension) to be brought beneath the hinge line I9, the cut-out2@ is provided with an enlargement which extends laterally from thehinge line I9 and which is provided with a part out of alignment withthe hinge line I8 and long enough to permit the cross-bar of the T topass through it. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the cut-outenlargement is provided with the part 2T which is parallel to but offsetfrom the hinge line I9, and which has a length suiicient to permit thecross-bar of the T to pass through it. Thus, in assembling the structureduring course of manufacture, the T- shaped part of the poster extension2l is first passed through the cut-out part 21, then brought into theposition shown in Fig. 5. The staples 24 or other fasteninginstrumentalities are then applied to hold the parts in assembledrelationship.

In Fig. 6, a modified structure is shown which is in so many respectsidentical with that hereinbefore described, that corresponding referencenumerals have been applied, each with the qualifying symbol a.

The structure of Fig. 6 is different from that of Fig. in that thebracing panel I3a is provided with a pair of tongues 28 (only one shownin Fig. 6, the other being at the opposite end of the structure) whichproject into the cut-out enlargement so as to embrace the edge portions22a. of the poster extension. It has been found that these tongues helpto hold the parts in proper relationship during the collapsing andsetting up of the structure when it is used. The provision of thetongues 28 makes it necessary to provide corresponding notches 29 in theT-shaped part of the poster extension, so that during the initialassembly of the device, the tongues 28 may pass through the notches 29when-they are aligned therewith. This occurs during the act of passingthe cross-bar of the T through the cut-out part 4 21a and then shiftingit back so that it lies beneath the hinge line I9a.

In Figs. '7 and 8, the structure is similar to that shown in Figs. 1-5,except for the shape of the cut-out enlargement. Accordingly, the samereference numerals have been applied in this case, except that eachreference numeral is accompanied by the qualifying designation b.

In the structure of Figs. 7 and 8, the cut-out 2012 which is alignedwith the hinge line I9b is provided with an enlargement which extendslaterally in both directions. It is provided with a part 2lb whichintersects the hinge line |92) at an oblique angle, and which is longenough to permit passage through it of the cross-bar of the T- shapedpart of the poster extension 2 Ib. In assembling this structure, theT-shaped part of the poster extension is first twisted slightly askew,then passed through the cut-out part 2lb, then allowed to assume itsnormal position, thus bringing the abutments 231) directly beneath thehinge line I9b. With the parts in this relationship, staples or otherfastening means (corresponding to the elements 24 of Fig. 1) areapplied.

In each of the structures shown and illustrated, the assembling of theparts during manufacture may be achieved expeditiously and withoutrequiring any special skill or care; and the parts of the device areaccurately aligned in predetermined relationship when the assembly hasbeen completed. The finished structure is easy to use, sturdy, and theupright poster is retained in an accurate vertical plane at all times bythe guiding action of the T-shaped part of the poster extension in itsrelation to the cut-out through which it extends.

It will be understood that the term poster as used herein and in theappended claims is intended to include within its scope any display areaor part which is supported by the collapsed base structure shown.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art mayreadily make changes in the details herein described and illustrated,without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z l. Acollapsible cardboard display device comprising an upright poster, apair of supporting panels hinged to said poster and diverging downwards,a pair of nether bracing panels hinged respectively to said supportingpanels and converging upwards, said bracing panels having upper edgeswhich are joined together along a hinge line and provided with a cut-outextending along part of said hinge line, and a poster eX- tensionprojecting downwardly through said cutout and provided with anupwardly-facing abutment underlying the joined bracing panel edges tolimit the extent of spread of said bracing panels, said poster extensionhaving an upper margin which overlaps the poster and is rigidly securedthereto above the line along which said supporting panels are hinged tosaid poster.

2. A collapsible cardboard display device comprising an upright poster,a pair of supporting panels hinged to said poster and divergingdownwards, a pair of nether bracing panels hinged respectively to saidsupporting panels and converging upwards, said bracing panels havingupper edges Which are joined together along a REFERENCES CTED Thefollowing references are' of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,144,341 Anderson June 29,1915 1,430,735 Goes Oct. 3, 1922 10 2,311,218 Fandrch Feb. 16, 1943

